Hardmask composition and method of forming pattern using the hardmask composition

ABSTRACT

A hardmask composition may include graphene nanoparticles having a size in a range of about 5 nm to about 100 nm and a solvent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0047492, filed on Apr. 3, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Example embodiments relate to a hardmask composition and a method offorming a pattern using the hardmask composition.

2. Description of the Related Art

The semiconductor industry has developed an ultra-fine technique forproviding a pattern having a size of several to several tens ofnanometers. Such an ultrafine technique benefits from effectivelithographic techniques. A typical lithographic technique includesproviding a material layer on a semiconductor substrate, coating aphotoresist layer on the material layer, exposing and developing thesame to provide a photoresist pattern, and etching the material layerusing the photoresist pattern as a mask.

In order to minimize or reduce the pattern to be formed, providing afine pattern having a desirable profile by only the typical lithographictechnique described above may be difficult. Accordingly, a layer, called“a hardmask”, may be formed between the material layer for etching andthe photoresist layer to provide a fine pattern. The hardmask serves asan interlayer that transfers the fine pattern of the photoresist to thematerial layer through a selective etching process. Thus, the hardmasklayer needs to have chemical resistance, thermal resistance, and etchingresistance in order to tolerate various types of etching processes.

As semiconductor devices have become highly integrated, a height of amaterial layer is maintained the same or has increased, although aline-width of the material layer has gradually narrowed. Thus, an aspectratio of the material layer has increased. Because an etching processneeds to be performed under such conditions, the heights of aphotoresist layer and a hardmask pattern also need to be increased.However, increasing the heights of a photoresist layer and a hardmaskpattern is limited. In addition, the hardmask pattern may be damagedduring the etching process for obtaining a material layer with a narrowline-width, and thus electrical characteristics of the devices maydeteriorate.

In this regard, methods have been suggested to use a single layer ormultiple layers, in which a plurality of layers are stacked, of aconductive or insulative material, e.g., a polysilicon layer, a tungstenlayer, and a nitride layer. However, the single layer or the multiplelayers requires a relatively high deposition temperature, and thusphysical properties of the material layer may be modified.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments provide a hardmask composition with improved etchingresistance.

Example embodiments also provide a method of forming a pattern using thehardmask composition.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented example embodiments.

According to example embodiments, a hardmask composition includes aplurality of graphene nanoparticles having a size in a range of about 5nm to about 100 nm, and a solvent.

According to example embodiments, a method of forming a pattern includesforming an etching layer on a substrate, forming a hardmask layerincluding graphene nanoparticles by providing a hardmask composition onthe etching layer, the hardmask composition including a plurality ofgraphene nanoparticles having a size in a range of about 5 nm to about100 nm, and a solvent, forming a photoresist layer on the hardmasklayer, forming a hardmask including the plurality of graphenenanoparticles by patterning the hardmask layer, the patterning includingetching the plurality of graphene nanoparticles using the photoresistlayer as an etching mask, and etching the etching layer using thehardmask as an etching mask.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the example embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A to 1E illustrate a method of forming a pattern using a hardmaskcomposition according to example embodiments; and

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate a method of forming a pattern using a hardmaskcomposition according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard,the present example embodiments may have different forms and should notbe construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.Accordingly, the example embodiments are merely described below, byreferring to the figures, to explain aspects. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” whenpreceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and donot modify the individual elements of the list.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,fourth etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These termsare only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed asecond element, component, region, layer or section without departingfrom the teachings of the present inventive concepts.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of thepresent inventive concepts. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises”, “includes”, “including” and/or “comprising,” whenused in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference tocross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized example embodiments (and intermediate structures). As such,variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limitedto the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are toinclude deviations in shapes that result, for example, frommanufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as arectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or agradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binarychange from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried regionformed by implantation may result in some implantation in the regionbetween the buried region and the surface through which the implantationtakes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematicin nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actualshape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe present inventive concepts.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which the inventive concepts belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, a hardmask composition according to example embodiments anda method of forming a pattern using the hardmask composition will bedescribed in detail.

A hardmask composition includes a graphene nanoparticle having a sizeranging from about 5 nm to about 100 nm and a solvent.

The graphene nanoparticle may have a 2-dimensional plate-like shape or aspherical shape. The graphene nanoparticle may have a spherical shape.Here, the term “spherical” denotes all types of shape that issubstantially close to a sphere. For example, the spherical shape may bea spherical shape or an oval shape.

When the graphene nanoparticle has a spherical shape, the term “size”denotes an average particle diameter of the graphene nanoparticle. Whenthe graphene nanoparticle has a plate-like shape, the term “size”denotes a diameter of the 2-dimensional flat shape. When the graphenenanoparticle may have an oval shape, the term “size” may denote a majoraxis diameter. A size of the graphene nanoparticle may be in a range ofabout 5 nm to about 100 nm, or, for example, about 5 nm to about 50 nm,or about 5 nm to about 30 nm. Also, the number of layers of the graphenenanoparticle may be 300 or less, or, for example, 100 or less, or, in arange of about 1 to about 20. Also, a thickness of the graphenenanoparticle is about 100 nm.

When a size, the number of layers, and a thickness of the graphenenanoparticle is within these ranges about, the hardmask composition mayhave improved stability.

The graphene nanoparticle contains an edge carbon (edge C) existing atan edge site and a center carbon (center C) existing at a center site.The edge carbon has a sp³ binding structure, and the center carbon has asp² binding structure. A functional group (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) maybe bonded to the edge carbon, and thus reactivity of the edge carbonwith respect to an etching solution is greater than that of the centercarbon.

In the graphene nanoparticle, an amount of the edge carbon may be about20 atom % or less, or, for example, in a range of about 1.2 atom % toabout 19.1 atom %.

In the graphene nanoparticle, an amount of the edge carbon and thecenter carbon may be calculated using a carbon-carbon bond length in thegraphene nanoparticle.

When a size of the graphene nanoparticle is 5 nm or less, an amount ofthe edge carbon is greater than 20 atom % based on the total amount ofcarbon of the graphene nanoparticle, and thus an etching rate of ahardmask formed using the hardmask composition may be too high. Also,when a size of the graphene nanoparticle is greater than 100 nm, anetching rate of the hardmask may be appropriately controlled, butdispersibility of the graphene nanoparticle in the hardmask compositionmay deteriorate.

Amounts of the edge carbon when a size of the graphene nanoparticle isin and out of a range of about 5 nm to about 100 nm are shown in Table1.

TABLE 1 Size of graphene nanoparticle (nm) Amount of edge carbon (atom%) 0.9 76.0 2.0 44.1 3.2 30.7 4.9 21.1 5.5 19.1 7.3 14.8 10.2 10.8 15.47.3 20.0 5.6 25.2 4.5 29.9 3.8 40.3 2.8 50.2 2.3 60.0 1.9 80.3 1.4 100.01.2

An amount of oxygen contained in the graphene nanoparticle may be in arange of about 0.01 atom % to about 40 atom %.

An amount of oxygen may be in a range of about 6.5 atom % to about 19.9atom %, or, for example, about 10.33 atom % to about 14.28 atom %. Theamount of oxygen may be measured using, for example, an XPS analysis.

When the amount of oxygen is within this range, degassing may not occurduring an etching process of the hardmask formed using the hardmaskcomposition, and the hardmask may have desirable etching resistance.

When the amount of oxygen of the graphene nanoparticle is within thisrange, the graphene nanoparticle has hydrophilic property, and thus anadhesive strength of the graphene nanoparticle to another layer mayimprove. Also, solvent dispersibility of the graphene nanoparticleimproves, and thus a hardmask composition may be more easilymanufactured. In addition, etching resistance with respect to an etchinggas may improve due to a high bond dissociation energy of the functionalgroup including an oxygen atom.

Each of D50, D90, and D10 of the graphene nanoparticles denotes aparticle size when the graphene nanoparticles are accumulated at avolume ratio of 50%, 90%, or 10%. Here, a particle size may refer to anaverage particle diameter when the graphene nanoparticles have aspherical shape, or a longitudinal length when the graphenenanoparticles do not have a spherical shape (e.g., have an oval or arectangular shape).

In the hardmask, light scattering does not occur in a range of visiblelight, and a transmittance of the hardmask at a wavelength of about 633nm is about 1% or lower. In this regard, when a hardmasks with improvedtransmittance is used, sensing of a hardmask pattern and an align maskfor patterning an etching layer becomes easier, and thus theto-be-etched layer may be patterned at a finer and more compact patternsize.

The graphene nanoparticles contained in the hardmask may have k that is0.5 or lower, or, for example, about 0.3 or lower, or 0.1 or lower, at awavelength of about 633 nm. For comparison, k of graphite is in a rangeof about 1.3 to about 1.5, and k of graphene, which is only formed of asp² bond structure, is in a range of about 1.1 to about 1.3.

k is an extinction coefficient which is measured using a spectroscopicellipsometer. When k of the graphene nanoparticles is within the rangeabove and a hardmasks formed using the graphene nanoparticles is used,an align mark may be more easily sensed.

Graphene includes polycyclic aromatic molecules that are formed when aplurality of carbon atoms are linked by covalent bond, and the carbonatoms linked by covalent bond may form a 6-membered ring as a repeatingunit, or may further include a 5-membered ring and/or a 7-membered ring.As a result, graphene may appear as a single layer of the covalentbonded carbon atoms (generally sp² bond). Graphene may be formed of asingle layer, but a plurality of layers may be stacked and form multiplelayers, in which the number of layers may be 300 or less, or, forexample, in a range of 1 to 100, or 3 to 50.

The total thickness of the graphene nanoparticle may be, for example, ina range of about 0.34 nm to about 100 nm. The graphene nanoparticleshaving the thickness has a stable structure.

A graphene nanoparticle according to example embodiments includes someoxygen atoms in addition to carbon atoms rather than having a completeC═C/C—C conjugated structure. Also, a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group,an epoxy group, or a carbonyl group may be present at an end of a2-dimensional carbon nanostructure in the graphene nanoparticle.

The graphene nanoparticles have improved solvent dispersibility, andthus manufacture of a hardmask composition with improved stability isconvenient. Also, the graphene nanoparticles improve etching resistanceagainst an etching gas.

At least one functional group selected from the group consisting of ahydroxyl group, an epoxy group, a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group, anamine group, and an amide group may be bonded at an end of the graphenenanoparticle, In this regard, when the functional group is bonded at theend of the graphene nanoparticle, etching resistance of a hardmaskformed using the hardmask composition may be better than that of thecase when the functional group is present in the center of the graphenenanoparticle as well as at the end of the graphene nanoparticle.

An amount of the graphene nanoparticles is in a range of about 0.1 wt %to about 40 wt %. When the amount of the graphene is within this range,stability and etching resistance of the graphene nanoparticle improve.

The graphene nanoparticle according to example embodiments may havepeaks observed at about 1340 cm⁻¹ to about 1350 cm⁻¹, about 1580 cm⁻¹,and about 2700 cm⁻¹ in Raman spectrum analysis. The peaks provideinformation of a thickness, a crystallinity, and a charge doping statusof the graphene nanoparticle. The peak observed at about 1580 cm⁻¹ is a“G mode” peak, which is generated by a vibration mode corresponding tostretching of a carbon-carbon bond, and energy of the “G mode” isdetermined by a density of excess charge doped in the graphenenanoparticle. Also, the peak observed at about 2700 cm-1 is a “2D mode”peak that is useful in the evaluation of a thickness of the graphenenanoparticle. The peak observed at about 1340 cm⁻¹ to about 1350 cm-1 isa “D mode” peak, which appears when an sp² crystal structure has defectsand is mainly observed when many defects are found around edges of asample or in the sample itself. Also, a ratio of a D peak intensity to aG peak intensity (an D/G intensity ratio) provides information of adegree of disorder of crystals of the graphene nanoparticle.

An intensity ratio (ID/IG) of a D mode peak to a G mode peak obtainedfrom Raman spectroscopy analysis of the graphene nanoparticles is 2 orlower, or, for example, in a range of about 0.001 to about 2.0.

An intensity ratio (I2D/IG) of a 2D mode peak to a G mode peak obtainedfrom Raman spectroscopy analysis of the graphene nanoparticles is 0.01or higher. For example, the intensity ratio (I2D/IG) is within a rangeof about 0.01 to about 1.0, or about 0.05 to about 0.5.

When the intensity ratio of a D mode peak to a G mode peak and theintensity ratio of a 2D mode peak to a G mode peak are within the rangesabove, the graphene nanoparticle may have a relatively highcrystallinity and a relatively small defect, and thus a bonding energyincreases so that a hardmask prepared using the graphene nanoparticlemay have desirable etching resistance.

X-ray diffraction analysis using CuKα is performed on the graphenenanoparticle, and as the result of the X-ray analysis, the graphenenanoparticle may include a 2-dimensional layered structure having a(002) crystal face peak. The (002) crystal face peak is observed withina range of about 20° to about 27°.

A d-spacing of the graphene nanoparticle obtained from the X-raydiffraction analysis is in a range of about 0.3 nm to about 0.7 nm, forexample, about 0.334 to about 0.478 nm. When the d-spacing is within isrange; the hardmask composition may have desirable etching resistance.

The graphene nanoparticle is formed as a single layer of 2-dimensionalnanocrystalline carbon or it is formed by stacking multiple layers of2-dimensional nanocrystalline carbon.

The graphene nanoparticle according to example embodiments has a highercontent of sp² carbon than that of sp³ carbon and a high content ofoxygen compared to a conventional amorphous carbon layer. An sp² carbonbond (that is, a bond of an aromatic structure) has a higher bondingenergy than that of an sp³ carbon bond.

The sp³ structure is a 3-dimensional bonding structure of diamond havinga tetrahedral shape, and the sp² structure is a 2-dimensional bondingstructure of graphite in which a carbon to hydrogen ratio (a C/H ratio)increases and thus may secure resistance to dry etching.

In the graphene nanoparticle, an sp² carbon fraction is equal to or amultiple of an sp³ carbon fraction. For example, an sp² carbon fractionis a multiple of an sp³ carbon fraction by about 1.0 to about 10, or byabout 1.88 to 3.42.

An amount of the sp² carbon atom bonding structure is about 30 atom % ormore, for example, about 39.7 atom % to about 62.5 atom %, in the C1sXPS analysis. Due to the mixing ratio, bond breakage of the graphenenanoparticle may be difficult because carbon-carbon bond energy isrelatively high. Thus, when a hardmask composition including thegraphene nanoparticle is used, etching resistance characteristics duringthe etching process may improve. Also, a bond strength between thehardmask and adjacent layers may increase.

A hardmask obtained using conventional amorphous carbon mainly includesa sp²-centered carbon atom binding structure and thus may have desirableetching resistance and relatively low transparency. Therefore, when thehardmasks are aligned, problems may occur, and particles may begenerated during a deposition process, and thus a hardmasks manufacturedusing a diamond-like carbon having a sp³-carbon atom binding structurehas been developed. However, the hardmask has relatively low etchingresistance and thus has a limit in process application.

A k value of graphite is in a range of about 1.3 to about 1.5, and a kvalue of graphene having a sp² structure is in a range of about 1.1 toabout 1.3. The graphene nanoparticle according to example embodimentshas a k value that is 1.0 or lower at a predetermined or givenwavelength, or, for example, in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.5 andthus has improved transparency. Thus, when a hardmask including thegraphene nanoparticle is used, an align mark may be more easily sensedduring formation of a pattern of an etching layer. Therefore, thepattern may be more finely and evenly formed, and the hardmask may havedesirable etching resistance.

In the hardmask composition according to example embodiments, anysolvent capable of dispersing the graphene nanoparticle may be used. Forexample, the solvent may be at least one selected from water, analcohol-based solvent, and an organic solvent.

Examples of the alcohol-based solvent may include methanol, ethanol, andisopropanol, and examples of the organic solvent may includeN,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dichloroethane,dichlorobenzene, N,N-dimethylsulfoxide, xylene, aniline, propyleneglycol, propylene glycol diacetate, methoxypropanediol,diethyleneglycol, gamma-butyrolactone, acetylacetone, cyclohexanone,propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, γ-butyrolactone,dichloroethane, O-dichlorobenzene, nitromethane, tetrahydrofuran,nitromethane, dimethyl sulfoxide, nitrobenzene, butyl nitrite,methylcellosolve, ethylcellosolve, diethylether,diethyleneglycolmethylether, diethyleneglycolethylether,dipropyleneglycolmethylether, toluene, hexane, methylethylketone,methylisoketone, hydroxymethylcellulose, and heptanes.

An amount of the solvent may be about 100 parts to about 100,000 partsby weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total weight of thegraphene nanoparticle. When the amount of the solvent is within thisrange, the hardmask composition may have an appropriate viscosity andthus may more easily form a layer.

The hardmask composition may further include a first material that isselected from an aromatic ring-containing monomer and a polymercontaining a repeating unit including an aromatic ring-containingmonomer; a second material that is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a hexagonal boron nitride, a chalcogenide-based material,and their precursors; or a mixture thereof.

The first material may not be combined with the second material, or thefirst material may be combined to the second material by a chemicalbond. In this regard, the first material and the second materialcombined by a chemical bond form a composite structure. The firstmaterial and the second material having the functional groups above maybe linked to each other through a chemical bond.

The chemical bond may be, for example, a covalent bond. Here, thecovalent bond may include at least one selected from an ester group(—C(═O)O—), an ether group (—O—), a thioether group (—S—), a carbonylgroup ((—C)═O)—), and an amide group (—C(═O)NH—).

The first material and the second material may include at least oneselected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylgroup, an amino group, —Si(R₁)(R₂)(R₃) (where, each of R₁, R₂, and R₃are independently one of a hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, a C₁-C₃₀ alkylgroup, a C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy group, a C₆-C₃₀ aryl group, a C₆-C₃₀ aryloxygroup, or a halogen atom), a thiol group (—SH), —Cl, —C(═O)Cl, —SCH₃, aglycidyloxy group, a halogen atom, an isocyanate group, a glycidyloxygroup, an aldehyde group, an epoxy group, an imino group, an urethanegroup, an ester group, an amide group, an imide group, an acryl group, amethacryl group, —(CH₂)_(n)COOH (where, n is an integer of 1 to 10),—CONH₂, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ saturated organic group,and a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ unsaturated organic group.

The aromatic ring-containing monomer is at least one selected from thegroup consisting of a monomer represented by Formula 1 and a monomerrepresented by Formula 2:

In Formula 1, R is a mono-substituted or a multi-substituted substituentthat is at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenatom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an isocyanate group, aglycidyloxy group, a carboxyl group, an aldehyde group, an amino group,a siloxane group, an epoxy group, an imino group, an urethane group, anester group, an epoxy group, an amide group, an imide group, an acrylgroup, a methacryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀saturated organic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀unsaturated organic group.

R may be a general photosensitive functional group as well as the groupslisted above.

The C₁-C₃₀ saturated organic group and the C₁-C₃₀ unsaturated organicgroup may have a photosensitive functional group. Here, examples of thephotosensitive functional group may be an epoxy group, an amide group,an imide group, an urethane group, and an aldehyde group.

Examples of the C₁-C₃₀ saturated organic group and the C₁-C₃₀unsaturated organic group may be a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy group, asubstituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ alkenyl group, a substituted orunsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstitutedC₆-C₃₀ aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ aryloxy group,a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroaryl group, a substituted orunsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroaryloxy group, a substituted or unsubstitutedC₄-C₃₀ carbon-ring group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₄-C₃₀carbon-ring oxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀hetero-ring group.

In Formula 1, a binding site of R is not limited. Also, the number of Rin Formula 1 is one for convenience of description, but R may besubstituted to at any site where every substitution is possible.A-L-A′  [Formula 2]

In Formula 2, each of A and A′ are identical to or different from eachother and are independently a monovalent organic group derived from oneselected from the monomers represented by Formula 1; and

L is a single bond including one of a substituted or unsubstitutedC₁-C₃₀ alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ alkenylenegroup, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ alkynylene group, asubstituted or unsubstituted C₇-C₃₀ arylenealkylene group, a substitutedor unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene group, a substituted or unsubstitutedC₂-C₃₀ heteroarylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀heteroarylenealkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀alkyleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₇-C₃₀arylenealkyleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀aryleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroaryleneoxygroup, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylenealkyleneoxygroup, —C(═O)—, and —SO²⁻.

In L, the substituted C₁-C₃₀ alkylene group, substituted C₂-C₃₀alkenylene group, substituted C₂-C₃₀ alkynylene group, substitutedC₇-C₃₀ arylenealkylene group, substituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene group,substituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylene group, substituted C₂-C₃₀heteroarylenealkylene group, substituted C₁-C₃₀ alkyleneoxy group,substituted C₇-C₃₀ arylenealkyleneoxy group, substituted C₆-C₃₀aryleneoxy group, substituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroaryleneoxy group, andsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylenealkyleneoxy group may be substitutedwith at least one substituent selected from a halogen atom, a hydroxylgroup, an isocyanate group, a glycidyloxy group, a carboxyl group, analdehyde group, an amino group, a siloxane group, an epoxy group, animino group, an urethane group, an ester group, an epoxy group, an amidegroup, an imide group, an acryl group, and a methacryl group, or may besubstituted with a photosensitive functional group.

The first material is at least one selected from the group consisting ofa compound represented by Formula 3 and a compound represented byFormula 4:

In Formula 4, R is as defined in the description of Formula 1; and L isas defined in the description of Formula 2.

In Formulae 3 and 4 above, a binding site of R is not limited, and thenumber of R in Formulae 3 and 4 above is one for convenience ofdescription, but R may be substituted to at any site where everysubstitution is possible.

A weight average molecular weight of the polymer containing a repeatingunit including an aromatic ring-containing monomer is about 300 to about30,000. When a polymer having a weight average molecular weight withinthis range is used, a thin film may be more easily formed, and atransparent hardmask may be manufactured.

In example embodiments, the first material is a compound represented byFormula 5:

In Formula 5, A is a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C30 arylenegroup; L is a single bond or a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6alkylene group; and n is an integer of 1 to 5.

The arylene group is one selected from groups of Group 1:

In example embodiments, the compound of Formula 5 may be represented byFormulae 6a to 6c:

In Formula 6a, 6b, or 6c, each of L¹ to L⁴ are independently one of asingle bond and a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₆ alkylene group.

The first material is selected from compounds represented by Formulae 6dto 6f:

The first material may be a co-polymer represented by Formula 7:

In Formula 7, R₁ is a C₁-C₁₀ substituted or unsubstituted alkylenegroup; each of R₂, R₃, R₇, and R₈ are independently one of a hydrogenatom, a hydroxyl group, a C₁-C₁₀ linear or branched cycloalkyl group,alkoxy group, C₆-C₃₀ aryl group, and a mixture thereof; each of R₄, R₅,and R₆ are independently one of a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, aC₁-C₄ alkylether group, a C₈-C₂₀ phenyldialkylene ether group, and amixture thereof; R₉ is one of a C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group, a C₈-C₂₀phenyldialkylene group, a C₇-C₂₀ hydroxyphenylalkylene group, and amixture thereof; each of x and y are independently a mole fraction oftwo repeating units in part A which is about 0 to about 1, where x+y=1;n is an integer of 1 to 200; and m is an integer of 1 to 200.

The first material is a polymer represented by Formula 7a, Formula 7b,or Formula 7c:

In Formula 7a, x is 0.2, and y is 0.8.

In Formula 7b, x is 0.2, y is 0.8, n=90, and m=10.

In Formula 7c, x is 0.2, y is 0.8, n=90, and m=10.

The first material may be a copolymer represented by Formula 8 orFormula 9:

In Formulae 8 and 9, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1to 190; R₁ is one of a hydrogen (—H), a hydroxyl group (—OH), a C₁-C₁₀alkyl group, a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, allyl group, and a halogen atom; R₂ isone of a group represented by Formula 9A, a phenyl, a chrysene, apyrene, a fluoroanthene, an anthrone, a benzophenone, a thioxanthone, ananthracene, and their derivatives; R₃ is a conjugated diene; and R₄ isan unsaturated dienophile.

In Formula 9A, R₃ is one of a 1,3-butadienyl group and a1,6-cyclopentadienylmethyl, and R₄ is one of a vinyl group and acyclopentenylmethyl group.

In example embodiments, the copolymer may be a polymer represented byone of Formulae 10 to 12:

In Formula 10, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of thepolymer is about 10,000, and a polydispersity of the polymer is about2.1.

In Formula 11, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21. The weight average molecular weight of the polymeris about 11,000, and a polydispersity of the polymer is about 2.1.

In Formula 12, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21. The weight average molecular weight of thecopolymer is about 10,000; a polydispersity of the polymer is about 1.9,l+m+n=21; and n+m:l=2:1.

In Formula 13, the molecular average molecular weight (Mw) of thepolymer is about 10,000; a polydispersity of the polymer is about 2.0,and n is an integer of 20.

The graphene nanoparticle has a relatively low reactivity with respectto a CxFy gas, which is an etching gas used to perform etching on amaterial layer including SiO₂ or SiN, and thus etching resistance of thegraphene nanoparticle may increase. Also, when an etching gas, SF₆ orXeF₆, with a relatively low reactivity with respect to SiO₂ or SiNx isused, etching may be more easily performed on the graphene nanoparticle,and thus ashing may be more easily performed thereon as well. Moreover,the graphene nanoparticle is a material having a band gap which has atransparent property, and thus an additional align mask is not needed inthe preparation process.

The hexagonal boron nitride derivative is a hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) or a hexagonal boron carbonitride (h-BxCyNz) (where, the sum ofx, y, and z is 3). In the hexagonal boron nitride derivative, boron andnitrogen atoms are regularly included in a hexagonal ring, or some ofboron and nitrogen atoms are substituted with carbon atoms whilemaintaining a hexagonal ring.

The metal chalcogenide-based material is a compound including at leastone of Group 16 (chalcogenide) elements and one or more electropositiveelements. For example, the metal chalcogenide-based material includesone or more metal elements selected from molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W),niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), zirconium(Zr), hafnium (Hf), technetium (Tc), rhenium (Re), copper (Cu), gallium(Ga), indium (In), tin (Sn), germanium (Ge), and lead (Pb) and onechalcogenide element selected from sulfur (S), selenium (Se), andtellurium (Te).

The metal chalcogenide-based material is one selected from molybdenumsulfide (MoS₂), molybdenum selenide (MoSe₂), molybdenum telluride(MoTe₂), tungsten sulfide (WS₂), tungsten selenide (WSe₂), and tungstentelluride (WTe₂). In example embodiments, the metal chalcogenide-basedmaterial may be molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂).

The metal oxide may be, for example, at least one selected from MoO₃,WO₃, and V₂O₅ having a two-dimensional layered structure.

The hexagonal boron nitride has a flat hexagonal crystal structure, thevertices of which are occupied alternatively by boron and nitrogenatoms. A layered structure of the hexagonal boron nitride is a structurein which a boron atom and a nitrogen atom neighboring each other areoverlapped due to their polarities, where the structure is also referredto as “an AB stacking”. Here, the hexagonal boron nitride may have alayered structure, in which nanolevel-thin sheets are stacked in layers,and the layered structure may be separated or detached from each otherto form a single layer or multiple layers of a hexagonal boron nitridesheet.

The hexagonal boron nitride according to example embodiments may have apeak observed at about 1360 cm⁻¹ in Raman spectrum analysis. Thislocation of the peak provides information about the number of layers inthe hexagonal boron nitride. Through atomic force microscopic (AFM)analysis, Raman spectrum analysis, and transmission electron microscope(TEM) analysis performed on the hexagonal boron nitride, it may be knownthat the hexagonal boron nitride has a nanosheet structure.

X-ray diffraction analysis using CuKα is performed on the hexagonalboron nitride, and as the result of the X-ray analysis, the hexagonalboron nitride may include a two-dimensional layered structure having a(002) crystal face. A peak of the (002) crystal face peak is observedwithin a range of about 20° to about 27°.

An interlayer distance (d-spacing) of the two-dimensional carbonnanostructure obtained from the X-ray diffraction analysis is in a rangeof about 0.3 nm to about 0.7 nm, for example, about 0.334 nm to about0.478 nm. In addition, an average particle diameter of the hexagonalboron nitride crystals obtained from the X-ray diffraction analysis isabout 1 nm or greater, or for example, in a range of about 23.7 Å toabout 43.9 Å. When the interlayer distance is within this range, thehardmask composition may have desirable etching resistance.

The hexagonal boron nitride is formed as a single layer of atwo-dimensional boron nitride or multiple layers of a two-dimensionalboron nitride.

Hereinafter, a method of preparing a hardmask using the hardmaskcomposition according to example embodiments will be described indetail.

The hardmask composition according to example embodiments includes agraphene nanoparticle and a solvent.

The hardmask composition has desirable stability.

During or after the process of coating the etching layer with thehardmask composition, a heat-treating process may be performed.Conditions for the heat-treating process may vary depending on amaterial of the etching layer, but a temperature of the heat-treatingprocess may be from room temperature (about 20° C. to 25° C.) to about1500° C.

The heat-treating process is performed in an inert gas atmosphere or invacuum.

A heating source of the heat-treating process may be induction heating,radiant heat, lasers, infrared rays, microwaves, plasma, ultravioletrays, or surface plasmon heating.

The inert gas atmosphere may be prepared by mixing a nitrogen gas and/oran argon gas.

After the heat-treating process, the solvent may be removed. Theresultant from which the solvent is removed may be baked at atemperature of about 400° C. or lower, for example, about 100° C. toabout 400° C., and then another heat-treating process may be performedon the baked resultant at a temperature of about 800° C. or lower, or,for example, in a range of about 400° C. to about 800° C.

A thermal reduction process may proceed during the heat-treatingprocess. When the graphene nanoparticle undergoes the thermal reductionprocess, an oxygen content of the graphene nanoparticle may decrease.

In example embodiments, the method does not include the baking processdescribed above and may only include the heat-treating process.

When the temperatures of the heat-treating process and the bakingprocess are within these ranges above, the hardmasks with desirableetching resistance may be prepared.

A temperature increasing rate in the heat-treating process and thebaking process is about 1° C./min to about 1000° C./min. When atemperature increasing rate is within this range, the deposited layermay not be damaged due to a rapid temperature change, and thus a processefficiency may be desirable.

A thickness of the hardmask may be in a range of about 10 nm to about10,000 nm.

Hereinafter, a method of preparing a graphene nanoparticle will bedescribed in detail.

According to the first preparation method, an interlayer insertionmaterial may be intercalated into graphite to prepare a graphiteintercalation compound (GIC), and a graphene nanoparticle may beobtained therefrom.

The interlayer insertion material may be, for example, potassium sodiumtartrate. When potassium sodium tartrate is used as the interlayerinsertion material, the material intercalates into graphite without anadditional surfactant or a solvent during a solvo-thermal reaction toprepare the GIC, and then the desired graphene nanoparticle may beobtained via a process of selecting a particle size of the resultant.Potassium sodium tartrate may simultaneously serve as an interlayerinsertion material and a solvent.

The solvo-thermal reaction may be performed in, for example, anautoclave. The solvo-thermal reaction may be performed at a temperature,for example, in a range of about 25° C. to about 400° C., or, forexample, at about 250° C.

Examples of graphite, as a starting material, may include naturalgraphite, kish graphite, synthetic graphite, expandable graphite orexpanded graphite, or a mixture thereof.

The third preparation method is a method of preparing a graphenenanoparticle to which a functional group is attached. The functionalgroup may be, for example, a hydroxyl group. A hydroxyl group-attachedgraphene nanoparticle is highly soluble in a solvent and thus may beutilized in various applications.

A hydroxyl group-attached graphene nanoparticle according to exampleembodiments may be prepared as follows.

A hydrothermal fusion reaction is performed on a polycyclic aromatichydrocarbon under an alkali aqueous solution condition, and thus agraphene nanoparticle having a single crystal may be obtained.

A hydrothermal reaction under the alkali aqueous solution condition maybe performed at a temperature in a range of about 90° C. to about 200°C. In the hydrothermal reaction, when alkaline species, e.g., OH—, arepresent, hydrogen removal, condensation, or graphitization, and edgefunctionalization may occur.

Examples of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon may include a pyrene anda 1-nitropyrene.

Before performing the hydrothermal reaction, a nitration reaction may beperformed on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The nitration reactionmay be performed using a hot nitrate (hot HNO₃).

During the hydrothermal reaction, an amine-based material, e.g., NH₃ orNH₂NH₂, may be added. When such an amine-based material is added,water-soluble OH— and an amine-functionalized graphene nanoparticle maybe obtained.

According to the second preparation method, a graphene nanoparticle maybe obtained by acid-treating graphite. For example, an acid and anoxidizing agent are added to graphite, heated and allowed to react, andcooled to room temperature (25° C.) to obtain a graphene nanoparticleprecursor-containing mixture. An oxidizing agent may be added to theprecursor containing mixture to undergo an oxidizing process, and theresultant may be worked up to prepare the desired graphene nanoparticle.

Examples of the acid may include sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aceticacid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, perchloric acid,trifluoroacetic acid, hydrochloric acid, m-chlorobenzoic acid, and amixture thereof. Also, examples of the oxidizing agent may include,potassium permanganate, potassium perchlorate, ammonium persulfate, anda mixture thereof. Examples of the acid and the oxidizing agent are asdescribed above. An amount of the oxidizing agent may be in a range ofabout 0.00001 part to about 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts byweight of graphite.

The reaction proceeds by adding the acid and the oxidizing agent tographite and heating the resultant using, for example, a microwave. Themicrowave may have an output in a range of about 50 W to about 1500 Wand a frequency in a range of about 2.45 GHz to about 60 GHz. A periodof time for applying the microwave may vary depending on the frequencyof the microwave, but the microwave may be applied for about 10 minutesto about 30 minutes.

The work-up process includes controlling the resultant underwent theoxidizing process to room temperature, adding deionized water to dilutethe resultant, and adding a base thereto to perform neutralization ofthe resultant.

Also, the work-up process may include a process of selecting a particlesize from the resultant to obtain the desired graphene nanoparticle.

Hereinafter, in example embodiments, a method of forming a pattern usinga hardmask composition will be described by referring to FIGS. 1A to 1E.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an etching layer 11 is formed on a substrate 10. Ahardmask composition including graphene nanoparticles and a solvent areprovided on the etching layer 11 to form a hardmask 12, wherein thegraphene nanoparticles contains about 0.01 atom % to about 40 atom % ofoxygen.

A process of providing the hardmask composition is performed by onemethod selected from spin coating, air spraying, electrospraying, dipcoating, spray coating, doctor blade coating, and bar coating.

In example embodiments, the hardmask composition may be provided using aspin-on coating method. Here, the hardmask composition may coat thesubstrate 10 at a thickness of, for example, in a range of about 10 nmto about 10,000 nm, or, about 10 nm to about 1,000 nm, but the thicknessof the hard composition is not limited thereto.

A substrate 10 is not particularly limited, and the substrate may be atleast one selected from, for example, a Si substrate; a glass substrate;a GaN substrate; a silica substrate; a substrate including at least oneselected from nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), platinum (Pt),palladium (Pd), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu),manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), tantalum(Ta), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), uranium (U), vanadium (V), andzirconium (Zr); and a polymer substrate.

A photoresist layer 13 is formed on the hardmask 12.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a photoresist pattern 13 a is formed by exposingand developing the photoresist layer 13 using a common method in theart.

The process of exposing the photoresist layer 13 may be performed using,for example, ArF, KrF, or EUV. Also, after the exposing process, aheat-treating process at a temperature in a range of about 200° C. toabout 500° C. may be performed on the exposed photoresist layer 13.

In the developing process, a developing solution, e.g., an aqueoussolution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), may be used.

Thereafter, the hardmask 12 may be etched using the photoresist pattern13 a as an etching mask to form a hardmask pattern 12 a on the etchinglayer 11 (FIG. 1C).

A thickness of the hardmask pattern 12 a may be in a range of about 10nm to about 10,000 nm. When the thickness of the hardmask pattern 12 ais within this range, the layer may have desirable etching resistance aswell as desirable homogeneousness.

For example, the etching process may be performed using a dry etchingmethod using an etching gas. Examples of the etching gas include atleast one selected from CF₄, CHF₃, Cl₂, and BCl₃.

In example embodiments, when a mixture gas of C₄F₈ and CHF₃ is used asthe etching gas, a mixing ratio of C₄F₈ and CHF₃ may be in a range ofabout 1:10 to about 10:1 at a volume ratio.

The etching layer 11 may be formed as a plurality of patterns. Theplurality of patterns may vary, for example, a metal pattern, asemiconductor pattern, and an insulator pattern. For example, theplurality of patterns may be various patterns applied to a semiconductorintegrated circuit device.

The etching layer 11 may contain a material that is to be finallypatterned. The material of the etching layer 11 may be, for example, ametal (e.g., aluminum or copper), a semiconductor (e.g., silicon), or aninsulator (e.g., silicon oxide or silicon nitride). The etching layer 11may be formed using various methods (e.g., sputtering, electronic beamdeposition, chemical vapor deposition, and physical vapor deposition).For example, the etching layer 11 may be formed using a chemical vapordeposition method.

As shown in FIGS. 1D to 1E, the etching layer 11 may be etched using thehardmask pattern 12 a as an etching mask to later form an etching layerpattern 11 a having a desired fine pattern.

The hardmask according to example embodiments may be used as a stopperin the manufacture of a semiconductor device by being inserted betweenother layers.

Hereinafter, in example embodiments, a method of forming a pattern usinga hardmask composition will be described by referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D.

Referring to FIG. 2A, an etching layer 21 is formed on a substrate 20.The substrate 20 may be a silicon substrate.

The etching layer 21 may be formed as, for example, a silicon oxidelayer, a silicon nitride layer, a silicon nitroxide layer, a siliconcarbide (SiC) layer, or a derivative layer thereof.

Thereafter, a hardmask composition may be provided on the etching layer21 to form a hardmask 22.

An anti-reflection layer 30 is formed on the hardmask 22. Here, theanti-reflection layer 30 may include an inorganic anti-reflection layer,an organic anti-reflection layer, or a combination thereof. FIGS. 2A to2C illustrate cases where the anti-reflection layer 30 includes aninorganic anti-reflection layer 32 and an organic anti-reflection layer34.

The inorganic anti-reflection layer 32 may be, for example, a SiONlayer, and the organic anti-reflection layer 34 may be a polymer layercommonly used in the art having an appropriate refraction index and arelatively high absorption coefficient on a photoresist with respect toa wavelength of light.

A thickness of the anti-reflection layer 30 may be, for example, in arange of about 100 nm to about 500 nm.

A photoresist layer 23 is formed on the anti-reflection layer 30.

The photoresist layer 23 is exposed and developed in a common manner toform a photoresist pattern 23 a. Then, the anti-reflection layer 30 andthe hardmask 22 are sequentially etched using the photoresist pattern 23a as an etching mask to form a hardmask pattern 22 a on the etchinglayer 21. The hardmask pattern 22 a includes an inorganic reflectionprevention pattern 32 a and an organic reflection prevention pattern 34a.

FIG. 2B illustrates that the photoresist pattern 23 a and a reflectionprevention pattern 30 a remain after forming the hardmask pattern 22 a.However, in some cases, part of or the whole photoresist pattern 23 aand the reflection prevention pattern 30 a may be removed during theetching process for forming the hardmask pattern 22 a.

FIG. 2C illustrates that only the photoresist pattern 23 a is removed.

The etching layer 21 is etched using the hardmask pattern 22 a as anetching mask to form a desired layer pattern, which is an etching layerpattern 21 a (FIG. 2D).

As described above, the hardmask pattern 22 a is removed after formingthe etching layer pattern 21. In the preparation of the hardmask patternaccording to example embodiments, the hardmask pattern 22 a may be moreeasily removed using a common method in the art, and almost no residueremains after removing the hardmask pattern 22 a.

The removing process of the hardmask pattern 22 a may be performed by,but not limited to, O₂ ashing and wet stripping. For example, the wetstripping may be performed using alcohol, acetone, or a mixture ofnitric acid and sulfuric acid.

The hardmask includes a graphene nanoparticle may have an amount of sp²carbon structures that is higher than the amount of sp³ carbonstructures, and thus the hardmask may secure sufficient resistance todry etching. Also, when the hardmask composition according to exampleembodiments is used, a transparent property of a thin layer may bedesirable, and thus an align mask for patterning may be more easilysensed.

According to example embodiments, a pattern formed using a hardmaskcomposition may be used in the manufacture and design of an integratedcircuit device according to a preparation process of a semiconductordevice. For example, the pattern may be used in the formation of apatterned material layer structure, e.g., metal lining, holes forcontact or bias, insulation sections (for example: a Damascene Trench(DT) or shallow trench isolation (STI)), or a trench for a capacitorstructure.

Thereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the following examples. However, these examples are notintended to limit the scope of the example embodiments.

Preparation Example 1: Preparation of Graphene Nanoparticle

20 mg of graphite (available from Aldrich) and 100 mg of potassiumsodium tartrate were added to an autoclave vessel, and the mixture wasallowed to react at a temperature of 250° C. for about 60 minutes.

When the reaction was completed, the resultant was centrifuged using afilter (8,000 and 10,000 NMWL, available from Amicon Ultra-15) to selecta particle size, and this underwent dialysis to remove residues. Thenthe resultant was dried to obtain a spherical graphene nanoparticlehaving a particle diameter of about 10 nm.

Preparation Example 2: Preparation of Graphene Nanoparticle

20 mg of graphite (available from Alfa Aesar) was dissolved in 100 ml ofa concentrated sulfuric acid, and the mixture was sonicated for about 1hour. 1 g of KMnO4 was added thereto, and a temperature of the reactionmixture was controlled to be about 25° C. or lower.

At room temperature, the resultant was refluxed for 10 minutes byapplying a microwave (power: about 600 W) thereto. The reaction mixturewas cooled so that a temperature of the reaction mixture was about 25°C., and then 700 ml of deionized water was added to the reaction mixtureto dilute the reaction mixture. Next, a sodium hydroxide was added tothe reaction mixture in an ice bath so that pH of the reaction mixturewas controlled to about 7.

The reaction mixture was filtered through a porous membrane having apore diameter of about 200 nm to separate and remove graphene having alarge size. Residues in the filtrate thus obtained was removed byperforming dialysis, and the resultant was dried to obtain a sphericalgraphene nanoparticle having an average particle diameter of about 50nm.

Preparation Example 3: Preparation of Graphene Nanoparticle to whichHydroxyl Group (OH) is Bonded

160 ml of nitric acid was added to 2 g of pyrene, and the mixture wasrefluxed at a temperature of about 80° C. for about 12 hours to obtain areaction mixture containing 1,3,6-trinitropyrene. The reaction mixturewas cooled to room temperature, and 1 L of deionized water and waterwere added thereto to dilute the reaction mixture, and this was filteredthrough a fine porous film having a pore diameter of about 0.22 μm.

1.0 g of 1,3,6-trinitropyrene obtained after the filtration wasdispersed in 0.6 L of 0.2 M NaOH aqueous solution, and ultrasonic waves(500 W, 40 kHz) was then applied thereto for about 2 hours to obtain asuspension. The suspension thus obtained was placed in an autoclavevessel and was allowed to react at a temperature of about 200° C. forabout 10 hours. The resultant was cooled to room temperature andfiltered through a fine porous film having a pore diameter of about 0.22μM to remove an insoluble carbon product. Dialysis was performed on theresultant thus obtained after the filtration for 2 hours to obtain agraphene nanoparticle having an average particle diameter of about 15nm, and an OH group is bonded to the graphene nanoparticle.

The graphene particles prepared in Preparation Examples 1 and 3 have astructure including an oxygen-containing functional group at an edge ofthe graphene particles. Also, the graphene nanoparticle prepared inPreparation Example 2 has a structure including an oxygen-containingfunctional group at an edge and in a plane of the graphene using amicrowave during the preparation process.

Example 1

0.5 g of the graphene nanoparticle prepared in Preparation Example 1 wasdispersed in 0.1 L of water to prepare a hardmask composition. Whilespray-coating a silicon substrate, on which a silicon oxide was formed,with the hardmask composition, the substrate was heat-treated at atemperature of 200° C. Subsequently, the resultant was baked at atemperature of 400° C. for 1 hour, and thus a hardmask having athickness of about 100 nm and containing a graphene nanoparticle wasprepared.

The hardmask was coated with an ArF photoresist at a thickness of about1700 Å and then pre-baked at a temperature of about 110° C. for about 60seconds. The resultant was then exposed to light using a light exposinginstrument available from ASML (XT: 1400, NA 0.93) and post-baked at atemperature of about 110° C. for about 60 seconds. Next, the photoresistwas developed using an aqueous solution of 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) to form a photoresist pattern.

Dry etching was performed using the photoresist pattern, as a mask, anda CF₄/CHF₃ mixture gas. The etching conditions included 20 mT of achamber pressure, 1800 W of a RT power, a 4/10 volume ratio ofC₄F₈/CHF₃, and an etching time of about 120 seconds.

O₂ ashing and wet stripping were performed on a post hardmask and anorganic material remaining after performing the dry etching to obtain adesired silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern as afinal pattern.

Example 2

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was prepared inthe same manner as in Example 1, except that the graphene nanoparticleprepared in Example 2 was used instead of the graphene nanoparticleprepared in Example 1, and a vacuum heat-treatment process at about 600°C. was further performed on the substrate after baking at about 400° C.

Example 3

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was prepared inthe same manner as in Example 1, except that a vacuum heat-treatmentprocess at about 600° C. was further performed on the substrate afterbaking at about 400° C.

Example 4

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was prepared inthe same manner as in Example 1, except that a vacuum heat-treatmenttemperature was changed to about 900° C.

Example 5

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was prepared inthe same manner as in Example 1, except that the graphene nanoparticleprepared in Preparation Example 2 was used instead of the graphenenanoparticle prepared in Preparation Example 1.

Example 6

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was prepared inthe same manner as in Example 1, except that the graphene nanoparticleprepared in Preparation Example 3 was used instead of the graphenenanoparticle prepared in Preparation Example 1.

Comparative Example 1

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was preparedusing a hardmask including high-temperature amorphous carbon.

A carbon source (C₃H₆) was vapor-deposited on the silicon oxide layerformed on the silicon substrate to form a hardmask includinghigh-temperature amorphous carbon.

The vapor deposition was performed using a chemical vapor depositionmethod under conditions including a temperature of about 550° C., apressure in a range of about 0.01 mTorr to about 1 mTorr, and an ionenergy in a range of about 50 eV to about 500 eV.

The hardmask was coated with an ArF photoresist at a thickness of about1700 Å and then pre-baked at a temperature of about 110° C. for about 60seconds. The resultant was then exposed to light using a light exposinginstrument available from ASML (XT: 1400, NA 0.93) and post-baked at atemperature of about 110° C. for about 60 seconds. Next, the photoresistwas developed using an aqueous solution of 2.38 wt % TMAH to form aphotoresist pattern.

Dry etching was performed using the photoresist pattern, as a mask, anda CF₄/CHF₃ mixture gas. The etching conditions included 20 mT of achamber pressure, 1800 W of a RT power, a 4/10 volume ratio ofC₄F₈/CHF₃, and an etching time of about 120 seconds.

O2 ashing and wet stripping were performed on the hardmask and anorganic material remaining after performing the dry etching to obtain adesired silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern as afinal pattern.

Comparative Example 2

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was preparedusing a hardmask including low-temperature amorphous carbon in the samemanner as in Comparative Example 1, except that a temperature of adeposition condition for the carbon source (C3H6) was changed to 300° C.to obtain low-temperature amorphous carbon.

Comparative Example 3

A monomer represented by Formula 6d was dissolved in a mixture solventof propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), methylpyrrolidone,and gamma-butyrolactone (at a volume mixing ratio of 40:20:40), and thesolution was filtered to prepare a hardmask composition.

A silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern was coated withthe hardmask composition obtained in the manner described above using aspin-on coating method, and then the resultant was heat-treated at atemperature of about 400° C. for about 120 seconds to form a hardmaskincluding spin-on-carbon (SOC).

The hardmask was coated with an ArF photoresist at a thickness of about1700 Å and then pre-baked at a temperature of about 110° C. for about 60seconds. The resultant was then exposed to light using a light exposinginstrument available from ASML (XT: 1400, NA 0.93) and post-baked at atemperature of about 110° C. for about 60 seconds. Next, the photoresistwas developed using an aqueous solution of 2.38 wt % TMAH to form aphotoresist pattern.

Dry etching was performed using the photoresist pattern as a mask and aCF₄/CHF₃ mixture gas. The etching conditions included 20 mT of a chamberpressure, 1800 W of a RF power, a 4/10 volume ratio of C₄F₈/CHF₃, and anetching time of about 120 seconds.

O2 ashing and wet stripping were performed on the hardmask and anorganic material remaining after performing the dry etching to obtain adesired silicon substrate having a silicon oxide layer pattern as afinal pattern.

Reference Example 1

10 g of a graphite powder was added to 50 ml of sulfuric acid (H2SO4),and the mixture was stirred at a temperature of 80° C. for about 4 hoursto about 5 hours. The stirred mixture was diluted with 1 L of deionizedwater and stirred for about 12 hours. Then, the resultant was filteredto obtain pre-treated graphite.

Phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 80 ml of water, 480 ml of sulfuricacid was added thereto, and 4 g of the pre-treated graphite was addedthereto, and 24 g of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) was added thereto.The mixture was stirred and sonicated for about 1 hour, and 600 ml ofwater (H₂O) was added thereto. When 15 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)was added to the reaction mixture, color of the reaction mixture changedfrom purple to light yellow, and the mixture was sonicated while beingstirred. The reaction mixture was filtered to remove non-oxidizedremaining graphite. In order to remove manganese (Mn) from the filtrate,200 ml of HCl, 200 ml of ethanol, and 200 ml of water was added to thefiltrate, and the mixture was stirred. The mixture was centrifuged toobtain a 2-dimensional carbon nanostructure precursor.

0.5 g of the 2-dimensional carbon nanostructure precursor thus obtainedwas dispersed in 1 L of water to obtain a hardmask composition. Whilespray-coating a silicon substrate, on which a silicon oxide was formed,with the hardmask composition, the substrate was heat-treated at atemperature of 200° C. Subsequently, the resultant was baked at atemperature of 400° C. for 1 hour, and vacuum heat-treated at atemperature of 600° C. for 1 hour to prepare a hardmask having athickness of about 200 nm and containing a graphene nanoparticle.

Evaluation Example 1: Transmittance

Transmittances of the hardmasks prepared in Examples 1 to 6, ComparativeExamples 1 to 3, and Reference Example 1 were measured by light exposureat a wavelength of about 633 nm.

As the result, it was confirmed that transmittances of the hardmaskpatterns prepared in Examples 1 to 6 were improved about 1% or lesscompared to transmittances of the hardmask patterns prepared inComparative Examples 1 to 3 and Reference Example 1. In this regard,when a hardmask with improved transmittance is used, a hardmask patternand an align mark for patterning an etching layer may be more easilysensed, and thus an etching layer may be patterned to have a fine andcompact sized pattern.

Evaluation Example 2: Etching Resistance

Etching resistance was evaluated by measuring a thickness differencebetween before and after performing dry etching on the hardmasks and thesilicon oxide layers using the hardmasks prepared in Examples 1 to 6 andComparative Examples 1 to 3 and calculating an etching selection ratioaccording to Equation 1 below.Etching selection ratio=(A thickness of the silicon oxide beforeperforming etching on a silicon oxide−a thickness of the silicon oxideafter performing etching on a silicon oxide)/(a thickness of thehardmask before performing etching on a hardmask−a thickness of thehardmask after performing etching on a hardmask)×100  [Equation 1]

As shown in Equation 1, the etching selection ratio shows a ratio of thethickness difference of the silicon oxide before and after the etchingto the thickness difference of the hard mask before and after theetching.

As the result, it may be known that the etching selection ratios in thecases of Examples 1 to 6 increased and thus have desirable etchingresistance compared to those of Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

As described above, according to example embodiments, a hardmaskincluding a hardmask composition may have desirable stability andimproved etching resistance and mechanical strength compared to those ofa polymer or an amorphous carbon generally used, and the hardmask may bemore easily removed after an etching process. When the hardmask is used,a pattern may be finely and evenly formed, and efficiency of asemiconductor process may be improved compared to when the hardmask isnot used.

It should be understood that example embodiments described herein shouldbe considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exampleembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other example embodiments.

While example embodiments have been described with reference to thefigures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat various changes in form and details may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hardmask composition comprising: a plurality ofgraphene nanoparticles having a size in a range of about 5 nm to about100 nm; a solvent; and one of a first material, a second material and amixture thereof, the first material including one of a first aromaticring-containing monomer and a polymer having a repeating unit includinga second aromatic ring-containing monomer, and the second materialincluding one of a hexagonal boron nitride, a chalcogenide-basedmaterial, and a precursor thereof, wherein the first aromaticring-containing monomer includes one or more compounds represented by atleast one of Formulae 6a to 6f,

wherein, in Formula 6a, 6b, or 6c, each of L¹ to L⁴ are independentlyone of a single bond and a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₆alkylene group, wherein the polymer having a repeating unit including asecond aromatic ring-containing monomer includes at least one of, apolymer represented by Formula 7a, Formula 7b, or Formula 7c, acopolymer represented by Formula 8 or Formula 9, and a polymerrepresented by one of Formulae 10 to 12:

In Formula 7a, x is 0.2, and y is 0.8,

in Formula 7b, x is 0.2, y is 0.8, n=90, and m=10,

in Formula 7c, x is 0.2, y is 0.8, n=90, and m=10,

in Formulae 8 and 9, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1to 190; R1 is one of a hydrogen (—H), a hydroxyl group (—OH), a C1-C10alkyl group, a C6-C10 aryl group, allyl group, and a halogen atom; R2 isone of a group represented by Formula 9A, a phenyl, a chrysene, apyrene, a fluoroanthene, an anthrone, a benzophenone, a thioxanthone, ananthracene, and their derivatives; R3 is a conjugated diene; and R4 isan unsaturated dienophile,

in Formula 9A, R3 is one of a 1,3-butadienyl group and a1,6-cyclopentadienylmethyl, and R4 is one of a vinyl group and acyclopentenylmethyl group,

in Formula 10, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of thepolymer is about 10,000, and a polydispersity of the polymer is about2.1,

in Formula 11, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21, the weight average molecular weight of the polymeris about 11,000, and a polydispersity of the polymer is about 2.1,

in Formula 12, each of m and n are independently an integer of 1 to 190,for example, m+n=21, the weight average molecular weight of thecopolymer is about 10,000; a polydispersity of the polymer is about 1.9,l+m+n=21; and n+m:l=2:1, wherein the plurality of graphene nanoparticlesinclude oxygen, and an amount of oxygen in the plurality of graphenenanoparticles is in a range of about 6.5 atom % to about 19.9 atom %. 2.The hardmask composition of claim 1, wherein the size of the pluralityof graphene nanoparticles is in a range of about 5 nm to about 30 nm,and the plurality of graphene nanoparticles are included in 300 layersor less.
 3. The hardmask composition of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof graphene nanoparticles has an intensity ratio of a D-mode peak to aG-mode peak of about 2 or lower as obtained from Raman spectroscopyanalysis.
 4. The hardmask composition of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof graphene nanoparticles has an intensity ratio of a 2D-mode peak to aG-mode peak of about 0.01 or higher as obtained from Raman spectroscopyanalysis.
 5. The hardmask composition of claim 1, wherein a sp² carbonfraction of each of the plurality of graphene nanoparticles is equal toor greater than a spa carbon fraction of the plurality of graphenenanoparticles.
 6. The hardmask composition of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one functional group bonded to an end of theplurality of graphene nanoparticles, the at least one functional groupincluding one of a hydroxyl group, an epoxy group, a carboxylic group, acarbonyl group, an amine group, and an amide group.
 7. The hardmaskcomposition of claim 1, wherein the hardmask composition includes thefirst material, and the first material includes the first aromaticring-containing monomer that includes one or more compounds representedby at least one of Formulae 6a to 6f.
 8. The hardmask composition ofclaim 1, wherein an amount of the plurality of graphene nanoparticles isin a range of about 0.1 wt % to about 40 wt % based on the total weightof the hardmask composition.
 9. The hardmask composition of claim 1,wherein the solvent is at least one of water, ethanol, isopropanol,ethanol N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dichloroethane,dichlorobenzene, N,N-dimethylsulfoxide, xylene, anniline, propyleneglycol, propylene glycol diacetate, methoxypropanediol,diethyleneglycol, gamma-butyrolactone, acetylacetone, cyclohexanone,propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, γ-butyrolactone,dichloroethane, O-dichlorobenzene, nitromethane, tetrahydrofuran,nitromethane, dimethyl sulfoxide, nitrobenzene, butyl nitrite,methylcellosolve, ethylcellosolve, diethylether,diethyleneglycolmethylether, diethyleneglycolethylether,dipropyleneglycolmethylether, toluene, hexane, methylethylketone,methylisoketone, hydroxymethylcellulose, and heptane.
 10. A hardmaskcomposition comprising: a plurality of graphene nanoparticles having asize in a range of about 5 nm to about 100 nm; a solvent; and one of afirst material, a second material and a mixture thereof, the firstmaterial including at least one of a monomer represented by a structurein Formula 1 and a compound represented by Formula 2, the secondmaterial including one of a hexagonal boron nitride, achalcogenide-based material, and a precursor thereof,

wherein, in Formula 1, R is a mono-substituted or a multi-substitutedsubstituent including at least one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, ahydroxyl group, an isocyanate group, a glycidyloxy group, a carboxylgroup, an aldehyde group, an amino group, a siloxane group, an epoxygroup, an imino group, an urethane group, an ester group, an epoxygroup, an amide group, an imide group, an acryl group, a methacrylgroup, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ saturated organic group,and a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ unsaturated organic group,A-L-A′  [Formula 2] wherein, in Formula 2, each of A and A′ areidentical to or different from each other and are independently amonovalent organic group derived from one of the monomers represented byFormula 1, and L is a single bond including one of a substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstitutedC₂-C₃₀ alkenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀alkynylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₇-C₃₀ arylenealkylenegroup, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene group, asubstituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylene group, a substitutedor unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylenealkylene group, a substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₃₀ alkyleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstitutedC₇-C₃₀ arylenealkyleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀aryleneoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroaryleneoxygroup, a substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₃₀ heteroarylenealkyleneoxygroup, —C(═O)—, and —SO₂—, wherein the plurality of graphenenanoparticles include oxygen, and an amount of oxygen in the pluralityof graphene nanoparticles is in a range of about 6.5 atom % to about19.9 atom %.
 11. The hardmask composition of claim 7, wherein the firstaromatic ring-containing monomer includes one or more compoundsrepresented by at least one of Formulae 6a to 6c:


12. The hardmask composition of claim 7, wherein the first aromaticring-containing monomer includes one or more compounds represented by atleast one of Formulae 6d to 6f:


13. The hardmask composition of claim 1, wherein the hardmaskcomposition includes first material, the first material includes thepolymer having a repeating unit including a second aromaticring-containing monomer, and the polymer having a repeating unitincluding a second aromatic ring-containing monomer includes the polymerrepresented by Formula 7a, Formula 7b, or Formula 7c.
 14. The hardmaskcomposition of claim 1, wherein the hardmask composition includes firstmaterial, the first material includes the polymer having a repeatingunit including a second aromatic ring-containing monomer, and thepolymer having a second aromatic ring-containing monomer includes thecopolymer represented by Formula 8 or Formula
 9. 15. The hardmaskcomposition of claim 1, wherein the hardmask composition includes firstmaterial, the first material includes the polymer having a repeatingunit including a second aromatic ring-containing monomer, and thepolymer having a second aromatic ring-containing monomer includes thepolymer represented by one of Formulae 10 to
 12. 16. The hardmaskcomposition of claim 1, wherein hardmask composition includes the secondmaterial.
 17. The hardmask composition of claim 10, wherein hardmaskcomposition includes the second material.
 18. The hardmask compositionof claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphene nanoparticles includeoxygen, and an amount of oxygen in the plurality of graphenenanoparticles is in a range of about 0.01 atom % to about 40 atom %.